=== MAIL BO NP White counters loan criticism Student Dear Editor: In his Feb. 9 letter te the News editor, Ken Timewell publicly directed some ques- tions to me regarding busi- ness expense deductions, and the recently announced “bank bail-out” in connec- tion with student loans under default. While I am more than happy to respond io those questions via_ this public medium, it is also important to note that I had already received and replied in con- siderable detail to a letter from Mr Timewell, on the very same subjects, several days ago. I cannot possibly repeat the entire text of that letter in this space, but here are the main points: @ I am in agreement with tthe vast. majority of Canadians who do not believe that Canadian-based NHL teams should receive taxpayer subsidies. 1 do not agree, however, with Mr. Timewell’s objection to the deductible nature of legiti- mate business expenses — expenses incurred in the development of _ business opportunities. Such deduc- tions-are used by yovern- ments worldwide to help fos- ter the growth of businesses and jobs. If we unilaterally eliminated such deductions in Canada, we would be cre- ating an incentive for even ‘more businesses, and jobs, to M Call or drop by for more details. b.1600 Mackay Rd., North Van fe ARAn, LEBE. Approved - x WINTER SPECIALS “ eAll service by Govt. registered techrticlans whe Ak move out of Canada. @ With respect to student Joans, the Hansard records of the speeches in Parliament from 1994 show that 1 expressed strong opposition to the Liberal government bill chat established risk-pre- mium payments of 5% to the banks for administering stu- dent loans. My opposition was based on Reform's posi- tion that the schedule for repayment of student loans should be contingent upon the individual’s income after graduation. This system of “Income Contingent Loans” has been proven effective in other countries. It ensures access to loans for students who need them, while at the same time ensuring that those loans are repaid at manageable levels directly related to a student’s future income. @ In the absence of a pro- gram of income-contingent foans, the rate of default on student loans is. quite high, and raises the suspicion that some students have been abandoning their loans, knowing that the Liberals have guaranteed repayment to the banks. The banks, in turn, have now approached the government to complain that the default rate is higher than they were led to believe, and they want the govern- ment to cover those addi- tional losses. Clearly, the pas- sage of time has proven 9S HiAURNAGS ReAUoLD ICBC sates “Open 7 days a week Cars, Trucks, Vans & Minivans Call lor tree pick-up K 990-9931 arg Teporlrotate tires, top up all fluids, road test, align check* *inc, oll, filter, top tp MuldeTanas extra 2 « ‘Tuned Ip » HIGH TECH ~ "Opie of BC's top AliCare technicians will check ; your engine, report findings & tune with scope reading & full road test" Ful condition repari + estimate, replace . front‘or rear pads or shoes by certified technicians. Lifetine guarantee on pads & ” Shoes - most makes a 3\¢ HEATING & COOLING Check radiator, hoses, belts, drain & refill cooling system, test antifreeze cond, pressure check & full report’ 2 ALIGNMENT » THE BEST AN *"" Finest cordless Hunter computerized alignment, by certified technicians, front *: or rear. produces full before & after report & toad test - your choice’ “Prices cover most cars & light ‘rucks .. Govt. licensed inspection _ Yellow 2 station 52564 a TALK ING PAGES 299-9000 4176 Pembeiton, Nort's Van. (5 biks South of Marine Drive) OG 5-7 4555 cand Reform to have been correct in its 1994 opposition to the government’s student: loan bill, and it would be wrong of us to now begin blaming the banks for trving to col- lect, as is their right, under the provisions of the bill passed by that Liberal gov- ernment. The fact is, we would not pow be in a posi- tion of having to be bail out the banks if the Liberals had listened to Reform’s warn- ings about the problems with their student loans bill. @ Iocan not support Mir. Timewell’s position that stu- dents should be given grants instead of loans. It is an estabiished fact that the bet- ter a person’s education, the higher the earning power, and the greater the cotal amount of assets which can be accumulated through that person’s lifetime. It is there- fore unfair and unreasonable to expect the working poor to subsidize, through their taxes, grants to students who will later be some of the highest-earning workers in society. There is nothing wrong with the state making money available to help stu- dents to get a higher educa- tion, but that money should be paid back by the benefi- ciaries of that higher educa- tion. I am aware, from consid- erable amounts of correspon- dence with Mr. Timeweil over the years, that he is strongly opposed to tax cuts smaller government, having even written to the Minister of Finance asking him NOT to cut taxes in the upcoming budget. Based on his correspon- dence with me, Ken is also strongly in favour of Sarge and interventionist govern- ment grani programs, anti- business, anti-free trade, anti-Reform, and for the most. part completely out of step with the wants, needs, and desires, of the majority of North Vancouver voters. Ted White, MP North Vancouver SURVIVAL GEAR-— SPRING LINE: a <, PIERRE PETTIGREW MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCES DURING PERIOD AUDITE? JANE STEWART CURRENT MINISTER OF RIUMAN RESOURCES AND , FLAK JACKET Outraged by gov't spending Dear Editor: In listening to the news recently, one is absolutely astounded by the idiocy of the Canadian government. We have the recent $20,000,000 NHL fias- co; followed by government’s own report on their misspending of $1 billion of the taxpayers money; and then, adding insult to injury, to come up with another grand scheme in which they wish to give Canadian banks approximate- ty $100,000,000 to assist with their risk factors involved in student loans. In my mind this puts together a picture of government giving away our money “just for the heck of ir.” It seents that they have an awful lot of “extra” cash and are just looking for se 8 s a a a Anti-jaywalking fence ineffective " teenager could jump the fence with ease if they". had to; as it turns out, they don’t have to: there... are huge gaps spaced regularly at each iree- along the length of the fence. The reason it may” -. Dear Editor: Re: West Vancouver's Marine Drive anti-jay- walking fence. The Jan. 30 News quite cleverly slides the word “theoretically” into the description of what the fence is supposed to do. Theoretically is nght! Not only is the fence ugly I venture to say that it is useless and possibly more dangerous than having nothing at all. Any self-respecting whimsical ways to spend it. Why are they telling education and medi- cine that “there is no money to give,” yet they have no trouble in finding dollars to fund ridiculous causes? This is ludicrous. Excuse me! I think it’s time that we held our governments accountable to the people for every penny they - spend. I cannot speak for everyone, but I’m sure the majority of us would much rather see our, hard-earned tax dollars spent on education, . medicine and our sorely sagging resource sys- tem. ; Deborah LU. Kelly North Vancouver poetrybydeborah@hotmail.com be more dangerous chan before is that the jay: walkers will now head for one of the gaps with. the risk of more than one. going for. the same space at the same time, trying to beat the cars. Philip McCourt yes North Vancouver a If you understand a speaker's words but not the _ meaning, you aren't alone. Vocabulary and grammar are only a part of the story. To really know what people say you need to understand the culture in which a language is spoken. Let us talk to” “you about our unique and intensive 12-week programs-—full-time and part-time ELC. 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